Means of applying pipe protectors



y 1966 M. MIRSKY ETAL MEANS OF APPLYING PIPE PROTECTORS Original FiledJan. 5, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS John W. Tinning Monroe MirskyATTORNEY July 19, 1966 M. MIRSKY ETAL MEANS OF APPLYING PIPE PROTECTORS5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 5, 1961 F i 51 0 I 49 f0 m w mMonroe Mirsky M 5% ATTORNEY John W. Tinning y 1966 M. MlRSKY ETAL MEANSOF APPLYING PIPE PROTECTORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 5, 1961III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTORS John W. Tinning Monroe Mirsky ME. M

ATTORNEY- United States Patent 3 261 084 MEANS OF APPLiIN PIPEPROTECTORS Monroe Mirsky, Houston, and John W. Tinning, Dallas,

Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Dresser llndustries, Inc., acorporation of Delaware Original application Jan. 3, 1961, Ser. No.80,343, now Patent No. 3,126,624, dated Mar. 3, 1964. Divided and thisapplication Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 339,051 5 Claims. (Cl. 29-234) Thisapplication is a division of application No. 80,343, filed January 3,1961, now Patent No. 3,126,624, granted March 3, 1964.

This invention is concerned with the protection of pipe in oil and gaswells by flexible and elastic protector sleeves, and is particularlyconcerned with a method and apparatus for applying such protectorsleeves to the pipe.

In producing gas and oil wells, it is customary to perforate the casingadjacent the producing formation, and a string of pipe, known as atubing, is run into the casing through which the oil or gas is produced.The portion of the tubing extending through the casing opposite theperforations is subjected to abrasive and erosive action of sand ladenfluid jetted into the casing under high pressure through theperforations; and the tubing is further subjected to corrosive action bychemicals either injected into the well for treating theproducingformation, or chemicals which are already present in the productionfluid. Such erosive and corrosive action has a tendency to weaken theeventually perforate the wall of the tubing, requiring that the tubingbe pulled and replaced.

It is, therefore, desirable that provision be made for protecting thetubing from such erosive, corrosive and abrasive action,

Heretofore it has been the practice to stretch a plurality of relativelyshort elastic sleeves about the tubing in abutting relationship, or tocoat the outer surface of the tubing with a plastic coating material inan attempt to protect same.

Such means have not been entirely satisfactory because the short lengthsof protectors were diflicult and laborious to apply. The jetted fluidoften forced the protector sleeves apart, permitting abrasive andcorrosive fluid to reach the tubing and damage same. No satisfactorymethod or means has been devised to apply such short tubing protectorscontinuously over a plurality of joints of pipe and over the couplingstherebetween in a manner such that there would be a continuous coveringof protector material which would positively protect the tubing at alltimes.

Coating materials applied to the surface of tubing have provedunsatisfactory because they are so thin as to wear through in arelatively short period of time and are subject to attack by corrosivefluid in the well.

In applicants method and apparatus, an elongated one piece sleeve ortube of synthetic rubber material is pulled onto joints of pipe bymechanical means operating in conjunction with air under pressure, andthe method hereinafter described and claimed permits a plurality ofjoints of tubing to be covered by a series of sleeves wherein thesleeves are extended in overlapping relationship over the couplingsbetween the joints without the necessity of providing a filler at thejuncture between the sleeves.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a methodof applying one or'a plurality of integral elastic sleeves on one or aplurality of sections of pipe to be disposed in a well to provide acontinuous uninterrupted protective covering for the tubing for adesired length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of covering aplurality of joints of tubing with a plurality of integral elasticsleeves extending over each joint of the tubing and overlapping at thecouplings between joints of 3,261,084 Patented July 19, 1966 tubing toprovide a continuous covering of resilient protective material for suchplurality of joints of tubing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of mountingintegral elastic sleeves on adjoining joints of tubing by pulling asleeve over the .pin end of one joint through the full length of thejoint of tubing, reversing the joints and pulling a sleeve over the pinend of another joint until the second-named sleeve overlaps the sleeveon the first-named joint.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of applyingelastic sleeves to a joint of tubing comprising stopping up the pin endof said joint of tubing, placing the end of the sleeve over the pin end,and pulling the sleeve over the joint, as fluid under pressure, such asair, gas, steam, water, oil, or other fluid, is admitted to the otherend of the sleeve, to expand same and allow the sleeve to be pulled overthe joint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of applying anelastic sleeve to a pipe comprising the attachment of a winch to one endof the pipe, placing the end of the sleeve over the other end of thepipe, admitting fluid under pressure into the other end of the sleevewhile pulling on it with the winch, to thereby expand the sleeve, andcause it to be slipped over the pipe.

Still another object of the invention is the coupling of two joints ofpipe, mounting a winch on one joint, placing one end of an elasticsleeve over the other joint, admitting air under pressure to the end ofthe sleeve, and pulling on same with the Winch to stretch it over thejoint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of applying aresilient sleeve to a plurality of joints of tubing comprising thejoining of two joints of tubing, the placing of the end of an elasticsleeve over the pin end of one of the joints, the attachment of a winchto the other joint and to the end of the sleeve, admitting fluid underpressure to the other end of the sleeve While it is being pulled on bythe winch to pull the sleeve over the joint; reversing the ends of thejoints, attaching the winch to the other joint, placing a sleeve overthe outer end of the pin end of the uncovered joint, admitting fluidunder pressure to the outer end of said sleeve, and pulling on it withthe winch to stretch it over the uncovered joint, and over the couplingbetween the joints to overlap the sleeves on the two joints.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus forapplying a resilient sleeve to a joint of pipe including a winchattachable near one end of the joint of pipe; support means for the pipeadjacent the winch; roller support means near the other end of the pipe;a pull-on adapter attachable to one end of the sleeve and extendableover the end of the pipe; an air adapter positionable in the other endof the sleeve; means for admitting fluid under pressure through said airadapter to the interior of the sleeve; and a winch cable attachable tothe pull-on device, whereby the sleeve may be pulled onto the pipe bythe winch, as fluid under pressure is admitted thereto for expandingsame to permit the sleeve to be pulled over the pipe.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent uponreading the detailed specification herein after following and byreferring to the drawings annexed hereto.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawingwherein:

FIGURE I is a side elevational view of the apparatus employed inapplying an elastic sleeve to a joint, or joints, of well tubing by themethod hereinafter described;

FIGURE II is a cross-sectional, elevational view taken on the line IIIIof FIG. I;

FIGURE III is a cross-sectional, elevational view taken on the lineIIIIII of FIG. I;

FIGURE IV is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the air adapteremployed with the apparatus;

FIGURE V is a perspective view of the air adapter and of the clampemployed in attaching the end of the elastic sleeve to the air adapter;

FIGURE V1 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the pin end of ajoint of tubing with the thread cover inserted therein and showing anelastic protector sleeve stretched thereover;

FIGURE VII is a perspective view of the pin end of a joint of tubing andthe thread protector plug ready for insertion therein;

FIGURE VIII is a cross-sectional view of the pull-on adapter attached inthe end of an elastic protector sleeve and being extended over a jointof tubing;

FIGURE IX is a perspective view of the pull-on adapter and a hose clampemployed in securing the end of the elastic sleeve to the pull-onadapter; and

FIGURE X is a side elevational view of the coupling between two jointsof well tubing, with elastic protector sleeves stretched thereover bythe method herein described, with the ends of the elastic sleeves inoverlapping relationship.

Numerals are employed to designate the various parts shown in thedrawings, and like numerals designate like parts throughout the variousfigures of the drawings.

The numeral 1 indicates the flexible protector sleeve or tube which ismade of oil-resistant elastic material such as synthetic rubber, knownas neoprene. The protector sleeve 1 is of sufficient length to extendover a joint of standard upset well tubing, and preferably has anenlarged or belled portion 2 at one end thereof for the purposehereinafter mentioned.

As shown in FIGURE 1, two joints of upset tubing are joined together,and are indicated by the numerals 3 and 5. The joint of tubing 3includes a pin end 4 which has a threaded portion 4a thereon and a boxend 8 which is threadedly joined to the pin end 7 of the section oftubing 5. The section of tubing has a box end 6.

A conventional power winch 9 has a base plate 10 secured thereto fromwhich the downwardly extending brackets 11, which may be employed forattaching to a suitable base (not shown), if desired, by means of thelateral flanges 12 extending outwardly therefrom.

The winch 9 may be attached to the joint of tubing 5, or any other jointof pipe, by means of U-bolts 13 and 14 which embrace the pipe 15, extendthrough holes (not shown) in the base plate 10, and are tightened inplace by nuts 13a and 14a.

The section of pipe 5, with the Winch 9 secured thereto, may be mountedon angularly disposed support legs 17 and 18, by sliding such supportlegs through the tubular sleeves and 16, which are welded to the baseplate 10, and securing same in adjusted position by means of the setscrews 19 and 20.

The power winch 10 includes a cable 21 wound about a reel 22 which isrotated by an electric motor 28 through a suitable gear train 29. Poweris supplied to the motor 28 from a battery (not shown) through thebattery cables 28a and 28b, which may be clamped to the terminals on thebattery by means of the clamps 28c and 28d on the outer ends of saidcables.

A hook 23 is provided on the end of the cable 21, which may be hooked inthe middle link of a length of pull chain 24. The chain 24 has a swivelhook 25 on each end thereof, which may be hooked in the ears 33 on thepullon fitting 30, for the purposes hereinafter described.

A foot pedal switch 26 is provided for energizing the reel motor 28 withthe foot of the operator.

The pull-on fitting 30 includes a substantially tubular member, having abore 31 therethrough. The bore 31 is larger in diameter than the outsidediameter of the joint of tubing 3 about which it is disposed to providean annular space 32 between the bore 31 and the outside diameter of thejoint of pipe 3. The annular space 32 permlts air to escape afterpassing through sleeve 1, and

also provides a loose fit about the pipe to permit the pullon fitting tobe easily pulled over the pipe.

A pair of ears 33 are provided on the pull-on fitting 30 in which may behooked the swivel hooks 25, attached to the outer ends of the chain 24.The ears 33 are preferably spaced on diametrically opposite sides ofpull-on fitting 30 so that the pull thereon will be evenly distributedto prevent binding of the fitting against the pipe.

An annular groove is provided about the pull-on fitting 30, and theenlarged belled end 2 of the tubing protector sleeve 1 may be disposedthereover and a hose clamp 35 may be clamped in place about the end ofthe elastic sleeve 1 and the pull-on fitting 30, in the groove 34, inorder to secure the end of the elastic sleeve 1 to the pu1lon fitting.

The roller stand 38 includes a base 39, and a laterally extending rollersupport 40 at the upper end thereof. The roller support 40 includesangularly disposed upper sides 41 to which are mounted the rollers 42 inangular relationship. A joint of pipe either with or without the elasticsleeve thereover may be disposed on the rollers 32 so that when theelastic sleeve is pulled toward the winch, as shown in FIG. I, same willmove on the rollers 42.

The air adapter 43 includes a hollow nipple 44 to which is threadedlyattached a head 45, having a shoulder 46 on the outer peripheral edgethereof.

The other end of the elastic sleeve 1 may be disposed over the head 45,and a hose clamp extended thereabout 'and secured in place to firmlyattach the end of the elastic sleeve 1 to the air adapter 43.

A threaded passage 48 is provided in the end of the nipple 44 in whichis threadedly engaged an air fitting 49 through which air under pressuremay be admitted to the air adapter and to the interior of the elasticsleeve 1 for the purposes hereinafter described.

A suitable connection 50 is provided on the air fitting 49 forattachment to an air hose 51, which in turn is attached through valves60 and 61, pressure gauges 62 and 63, and pressure regulator 64 to thepressure tank 59, which is supplied with air under pressure by acompressor 57, driven by an internal combustion engine 58.

A thread cover plug 53 has a bullet-like nose 54 thereon, a skirt 55thereabout, and a plug portion 56. The plug portion 56 may be slippedinto the pin end 4 of the joint of tubing 3, or any other joint oftubing, and the skirt 55 will extend over the threads 4a thereon, toclose the end of the tubing joint and protect the threads on the pin endthereof. Since air under pressure is admitted to the flexible protectorsleeve 1 toward the bullet-like end 54 of the thread protector 53, thereis no tendency for same to be expelled from the pipe. On the other handit is forced thereinto, as air under pressure is admitted to the elasticprotector sleeve 1 in the manner hereinafter described.

The operation and function of the apparatus herein described, and thepractice of the method hereof, is as follows:

The joints of upset tubing 3 and 5 are screwed together at the couplingsindicated at 7 and 8 by a loose make-up.

The pipe joint 5 is then lifted, and the winch 9 is secured to the joint5 by the U-clamps 13 and 14. The legs 17 and 18 are extended through thesleeves 15 and 16 and fixed in adjusted position by the set screws 19and 20. The pin end 4 of the joint 3 is then disposed on the rollers 42.The end of protector sleeve 1 is belled or enlarged in diameter, asindicated at 2, so that it may he slipped over the enlarged extension ofpull-on fitting 30'. After end 2 of sleeve 1 is extended over pull-onfitting 30, it is secured thereto by hose clamp 35 (FIG. VIII). Thethread protector plug 53 is inserted in the pin end of the oint 3, andthe pull-on fitting 30, with the protector sleeve 1 attached thereto, isplaced over the end of the pin end 4 of the tubing joint 3 to a positionwhere the pullon sleeve is past the rollers 42. The hooks 25 are thenattached to the ears 33 of pull-on fitting 30, and the winch cable 21 isattached to the chain 24.

The air fitting 43 is then attached in the outer end of the protectorsleeve 1 in the manner shown in FIG. 1V, and the air hose 51 is attachedin communication therewith. Air is then admitted through the hose 51 andthrough the air fitting 43 to the interior of the protector sleeve 1 andproceeds between the protector sleeve and the tubing 3, and out throughthe annular passage 32 between the pull-on fitting and the tubing joint3. The compressed air t-hus admitted between the protector sleeve andthe tubing joint, expands the elastic sleeve, as shown in FIG. VI, whichis preferably initially slightly less in interior diameter than theoutside diameter of the pipe on which it is placed.

The winch 9, which has been previously attached to a source of power,such as battery, is then actuated by pressing the foot switch 26,causing the cable 21 to pull toward the winch, thereby pulling theprotector sleeve onto the pipejoint 3.

The expansion of the protector sleeve by the air under pressure admittedthereto in the manner hereinbefore described, permits the protectorsleeve to be easily drawn over the pipe 3, and as it is drawn thereover,the protector sleeve rolls on the rollers 42. The sleeve 1 is continuedto be pulled over the joint 3 until it extends over the box end 8 of thejoint 3. It will be noted that at this time the elastic material of thesleeve 1 is stretched and extended to some extent by pulling thereon.The elastic sleeve is severed at a point beyond the pin end 4, and thestretch is thus released therefrom. The elastic retraction of thesleeve, causes the sleeve to move back to the position indicated at 65in FIG. X, so that the pin end of the joint 3 is actually left bare.

The winch 9 and support legs 17 are then removed from the joint 5, thecoupling at 7 and 8 is disconnected, and the position of the joints 3and 5 are reversed. That is to say, the box end 6 of the joint 5 isscrewed onto the pin end 4 of the joint 3. The winch 9 and legs 17 and18 are attached to the joint 3, and a protector sleeve is pulled overthe pin end 7 of the joint 5, in the manner hereinbefore described. Theprotector sleeve is continued to be drawn over the joint 5 and past thecoupling between the box end 6 and pin end 4, as shown in FIG. X, untilit extends considerably beyond the end 65 as shown in FIG. X. Theprotector sleeve 1 is then released by severing same from the pull-onfitting 30, and the protector sleeve will elastically retract to someextent with the end indicated at 66 in FIG. X, overlapping the end 65 ofthe first applied protector sleeve. It will thus be seen that the jointbetween the two sections of the joints 3 and 5 are completely coveredwith protector sleeves, and that the couplings therebetween is coveredand protected by the overlapping ends of the protector sleeves. Aplurality of joints of pipe may be covered in such a way with thecouplings therebetween covered, so as to provide a continuous coveringof protector sleeves throughout a desired length of the tubing string inthe well.

Of course, the apparatus and method can be employed and practiced tocover a single joint of tubing if desired, but it has particular utilityin covering a plurality of joints of tubing string with a continuoussheath of covering material.

Since the rubber-like sleeves 1 are pulled onto the joints of tubingunder tension, and since they are slightly lesser in interior diameterthan the outside diameter of the tubing joint, they are elasticallyretracted about the pipe by frictional contact therewith, and do nothave a tendency to crawl or slip on the joint after being installed, anddo not require any adhesive or clamping devices. to hold them in placeon the tubing joint.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a method and apparatus ofplacing elongated sections of elastic sleeves on tubing joints,efiiciently and with the least amount of labor and time, and in such away that a plurality of such elastic sleeves may be placed on aplurality of joints, with overlapping ends in such a manner that thecouplings between the joints are covered without the necessity ofemploying inserts or adhesive material or clamps to attach the ends ofthe sleeves, and they are applied in such a way that the sleeves do nothave a tendency to slip or crawl on the pipe, and in effect, provide acontinuous sheath for a plurality of joints of tubing as may be desired.

It will be understood that other and further embodiments of ourinvention may be made and devised, without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Means for placing an elastic sleeve on a pipe including, a firstsupport for the pipe attached to the pipe at one end thereof, providinga free end portion of the pipe; a winch attached to said free endportion of the pipe; a second support engaging the other end of thepipe; rollers on the upper end of the second support supporting the saidother end of the pipe; a closure member inserted in the said other endof the pipe; at pull-on adapter attached to one end of the sleeve andbeing slidable over the said other end of the pipe to guide the sleevethereon; an air adapter attached in the other end of the sleeve; a lineoperable by the winch and attached to the pull-on adapter; and means toadmit fluid under pressure through the air adapter to the interior ofthe sleeve as it is pulled on the pipe by the winch.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the closure member iscomprised of a plug portion insertable in the end of the pipe and askirt thereon arranged to overlap the end of the pipe to protect thethreads thereon.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the pull-on adapterincludes a hollow member having a bore therethrough greater in diameterthan the outside diameter of the pipe to provide an annular spacetherebetween; an annular channel thereabout; and a hose clamp extendableabout the sleeve in said channel to secure the sleeve to said hollowmember.

4. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the winch includes areel and a line; the pull-on adapter includes a hollow member embracingthe pipe and having a pair of engaging members spaced on diametricallyopposite sides thereof; and an attachment member having ends attached tothe engaging members with the midpoint thereof attached to the winchline.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the air adapterincludes a hollow member having a part insertable in the end of thesleeve and having a shoulder thereon; and a hose clamp attachable aboutthe end of the sleeve and the adapter behind the shoulder to clamp thesleeve to the adapter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,407,163 2/1922Ny 29-235 X 2,347,003 4/1944 Searle 29-234 2,498,357 2/ 1950 Breisch29-234 X 3,192,616 7/1965 Austin et a1. 29-234 WILLIAM FELDMAN, PrimaryExaminer.

J. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner.

1. MEANS FOR PLACING AN ELASTIC SLEEVE ON A PIPE INCLUDING, A FIRST SUPPORT FOR THE PIPE ATTACHED TO THE PIPE AT ONE END THEREOF, PROVIDING A FREE END PORTION OF THE PIPE; A WHICH ATTACHED TO SAID FREE END PORTION OF THE PIPE; A SECOND SUPPORT ENGAGING THE OTHER END OF THE PIPE; ROLLERS ON THE UPPER END OF THE SECOND SUPPORT SUPPORTING THE SAID OTHER END OF THE PIPE; A CLOSURE MEMBER INSERTED IN THE SAID OTHER END OF THE PIPE; A PULL-ON ADAPTER ATTACHED TO ONE END OF THE SLEEVE AND BEING SLIDABLE OVER 